Just so you can plan a little better this year, and get it done sooner

[old fashioned]

Good reminder, modern pioneer . . . by the way, I think you were the one who mentioned your method of growing potatoes last year and I just wanted to say "THANK YOU!" I grew both the biggest potato harvest yet and the biggest actual potatoes I have ever grown . . . although I honestly like the smaller potatoes a little better. But I won't complain.

Please share this info ...most harvests are by trial and error, some years better than others. I don't do anything special, just dig a hole, place in tater and cover, as it sprouts and grows I add more dirt. I "reuse" old tires and 1/2 barrels for easier harvesting-less digging and damaged taters. One year I did get one potato that was large enough to feed the 4 of us, plus a friend of DH AND some left over. It was HUGE-just wish I knew how to do that again.

 

[DrakeMaiden]

I might have to try to look it up . . . but modern pioneer builds, what I would call "cages" and piles straw and compost, if I remember correctly, up inside. I adapted his method to our site . . . I excavated where we put our large potato "cage" -- we basically built a box (w/o a top) out of chickenwire, with rebar supports. It was probably 6' x 3'. I replaced the soil (I think I dug the cage in about 6") and planted in that, then I mounded it up with the duck bedding I cleared out of our stalls -- straw bedding that the major duck messes had been already cleaned out and had sat for good measure -- and mixed that bedding with compost. I probably only raised the bed up by about a foot over the course of the summer.

I'll see if I can find a link to what modern pioneer wrote.

 

[miss_thenorth]

seed catalogues will be the death of me. There are just too many choices and I never decide. And when I do, my bill is like 300$ I've got two catalogues right now, and I have been procrastinating.

Consider my butt kicked

 

[DrakeMaiden]

Here is modern_pioneer's description .

 

[DrakeMaiden]

seed catalogues will be the death of me. There are just too many choices and I never decide. And when I do, my bill is like 300$ I've got two catalogues right now, and I have been procrastinating.

Consider my butt kicked

I can relate.

I was feeling overwhelmed about this season anyway, but what I did was to start with the crops that I most wanted. I already knew who I would order from, so I just started there . . . prioritizing my crop choices. Then I tucked in one crop that I haven't grown before, oh well actually two, but that I always wanted to grow . . . etc. Good luck! I find telling myself to just go with essentials helps with my total at the end . . . some seeds can be tempting, even if you know they may not perform well for you . . . .

 

[DrakeMaiden]

I thought I better explain my reasons for not exactly following modern_pioneer's method . . .

1. We needed a wire floor to the cage, because we have field mice that will burrow in and eat our potatoes.

2. Instead of making several cylindrical shaped structures, I made one large boxy one and excavated it into the ground in order to try to conserve soil moisture. I didn't want to wrap the structures in plastic. A larger mass will conserve moisture better, especially if it is partially buried.

 

[modern_pioneer]

Here is the video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FGBdHls9zzk&feature=channel

Due to the blight last year, I was unable to make much of a harvest. I think we did about 50 pounds of smaller taters.

Now this method works great, saves loads of space in the garden for other veggies, but it does take filling materials to fill the baskets.

Recovering the taters is a snap, you don't have to worry about slicing them.

I tried the 5 gallon bucket, but I consider that a waste of time and energy.

I was email a photo some one who used a plastic 55 gallon drum cut in two pieces who watched my video on you tube.

 

[DrakeMaiden]

Sorry to hear your potato harvest was not so great this year . . . I hope next year is better for you. You have me converted to this method. The filling material was loose, so even though I could not just dump the contents of my larger "cage" I was able to easily root around with my fingers for potatoes.

 

[old fashioned]

Drake & MP, yes this is similar to what I do with my tires and barrels, and works great. Thanks much for looking up the info.

 

[GardenWeasel]

Today is the day I need to do my seed orders. Gulp. It is raining so can't get out of it any longer. I tend to jump in with both feet and they are older feet than I like to admit. So have pared my list down but still want to try some new things like potatoes and sweet potatoes. I don't really have the money but need to get fruit trees in now for the future. Will draw up an actual plan and pray for the energy and health to carry it through.